MANILA, Philippines - Tiger Translate, a cross-cultural movement that has taken the world by storm, set its claws on Philippine shores last Friday. Held at KYSS bar on Makati Avenue, Tiger Translate kicked off its celebration of creativity with positively electric sets played by Turbo Goth as well as a live graffiti battle between Nuno and Ekis, both from KST Philippines.
We arrived just in time for a round of giveaways. The place was packed with people ready for a taste of Manila creativity and, of course, of Tiger Beer. Originally from Singapore, Tiger Beer has actually been available in select bars in Manila, but it doesn’t seem like a staple in many Filipino gatherings. It’s a light brew that goes down pretty smoothly, and very good when served ice-cold.
KYSS was adorned with Tiger-inspired pieces from all over the world, showing the breadth and extent of talents worldwide. There was a surge of excitement and a swell of pride as I was looking through the makeshift gallery. There were submissions from Australia, Korea, the UK, Singapore, the Philippines, and many other countries. The astounding part is that they all converged in the same area all of them different from each other but ultimately connected.
They themselves have proclaimed it: Tiger’s mission is to create a massive creative explosion instigated by this exposure to various cultures and experiences. They’ve picked emerging artists who create work that’s engaging and inspiring. They want to see how these things can come together, and they want to take the rest of the world along for the ride. Tiger Translate is all about posibilities discovering, creating, and reacting to them.
The first Tiger Translate in Manila was just a peek into the world of Filipino artists wild, understated, bold, and unpredictable. It’s also good exposure to the kind of work that’s being made all over the world. I, for one, am excited to see the rest.
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Tiger Translate has a couple more events coming up in Manila. Stay tuned for announcements by following @TranslateMNL on Twitter and tigertranslatemanila.tumblr.com. For more information, visit tigertranslate.com.